World Heritage

World Heritage Sites are the ones inscribed in the World Heritage List
based upon the "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (socalled the World Heritage Convention) adopted in 1972 by the General Conference of UNESCO. "Site","Buildings" and "Nature" inscribed on this list have to be preserved and protected "internationally"
as valuable and common assets of mankind.

The first condition for the inscription to the World Heritage is that the
World Heritage Committee admits that the property has a unique and "remarkable and universal
value" based on an international standard. And it is necessary that the property is well reserved and managed
suitably for its value.

In July 2005, 812 sites in the world and 13 sites in Japan are inscribed
on the list. As the number of sites increased, it was ruled that one country should not have the same
kind of property recommended. In this sense, those inscribed now are the representatives of the
history, culture and nature of the country all over the world.

2 exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time
or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts,town-planning or landscape design; or

3 bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; or

4 be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological
ensemble or land scape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; or

5 be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact or irreversible change; or

6 be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions,
with ideas, or with beliefs with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance (theCommittee considers that this criterion should justify inscription in the List only in exceptional circumstances and conjunction with other criteria and natural);

7 be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history,
including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; or

8 be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological
in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; or

10 contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ
conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science and conservation.